When heightened penalties were announced this college football offseason for the striking of defenseless players in the head and neck, it seemed that linebackers and defensive backs might have to adjust their play or risk ejection.

They are not the only ones, according to Michigan coach Brady Hoke.

"I know that the targeting issue is not just a defensive issue," Hoke said Tuesday. "It's a crack block or a block on a special teams play where someone comes back and blindsides a guy, or an interception or offensive lineman down the field or whatever.

"We tried to educate our whole team the safety ramifications first, and secondly, the penalty that's going to be pretty stiff. It's just not a defensive problem."

Summer school for college football players included crash courses on a rules enforcement change that calls for automatic ejections for leading with the crown of the helmet or hitting a defenseless player above the shoulder. Rogers Redding, the national coordinator of college football officials, said he and each conference's officiating coordinators have done more education on this issue than other years' rules changes have required. That included videos distributed to every FBS program to show what kind of hits are high risk for a foul and what kind are low risk.

Beginning Thursday, players who engage in high-risk hits will also risk ejection.

"In all of FBS football last season, there were a total of 99 fouls in 800-plus games," Redding said. "That's one every eight games. It's not like it was a huge deal. I'm not at all concerned about the officials over-officiating this thing. It's going to present itself to you in a major way. It's not something officials are looking for. It something that slaps you in the face."

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said he was glad to have the video to show his team.

"My biggest concern personally," he said, "would be just that in the comfort of our meeting rooms it's pretty apparent what is and what isn't a foul. But the bang-bang nature of it … that's a really tough play to officiate. It's not a black-and-white issue here. I think everybody is in favor of protecting players, but at the same time, it's going to be a real challenge, one more thing for the officials to deal with. Hopefully, the calls are more right than wrong, which traditionally they have been."

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50. East Carolina: The Pirates join Marshall and Tulsa as the three best teams in Conference USA. Look for the season finale between the Pirates and the Thundering Herd to determine the East Division. Can ECU be one of the more surprising teams to come out of Conference USA? Without a doubt: ECU is very potent offensively and should have its best defense under fourth-year coach Ruffin McNeill, so a conference championship is very much a possibility.
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49. Louisiana-Lafayette: This team's excellent offense and strong defense makes it the favorite to win the Sun Belt Conference championship. This is one thing missing during coach Mark Hudspeth's otherwise superb two-year tenure with the program. While the Ragin' Cajuns' have some issues with the kicking game, that shouldn't prevent this team from winning eight or nine games during the regular season.
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48. San Diego State: SDS's schedule should prevent another season with nine wins, but the Aztecs are easily one of the top three teams in the Mountain West Conference and a threat to Fresno State in the West Division. Games against Ohio State, Oregon State, Fresno State and Boise State should end in defeat, but the majority of the Mountain West lacks SDSU's talent, experience and solid coaching.
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47. Mississippi: Ole Miss returns 18 starters, the most in the SEC, and reeled in one of the nation's best recruiting classes on national signing day. Will it be enough to join Alabama, Texas A&M and LSU in the race for the SEC West Division championship? It would not be wise to doubt coach Hugh Freeze, but the Rebels might need another year (and another recruiting class) before challenging for the SEC championship.
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46. Ball State: The Cardinals have gone 15-10 under coach Pete Lembo, winning nine games and reaching a bowl in 2012
The offense, led by quarterback Keith Wenning, should be one of the MAC's three best. To beat Northern Illinois and Toledo, the Cardinals must improve defensively.
Danny Wild, USA TODAY Sports

45. North Carolina: UNC enters year two under coach Larry Fedora with one of the ACC's best offenses but continued question marks on the defensive side of the ball. To return to the top of a crowded Coastal Division, UNC must do a better job stopping the run and forcing turnovers. While the Tar Heels have 10-win potential, a tough first half could lead to a fourth-place finish in the division.
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44. Toledo: The program has reeled in the MAC's top recruiting class not merely once but in each of the past four years, according to the rankings compiled by Rivals.com. This year's seniors have gone 26-13 during the past three seasons
Andrew Weber, USA TODAY Sports

43. Arizona State: Quite clearly a Pac-12 South and Rose Bowl contender, a team with athleticism to burn on both sides of the ball, increased familiarity with the second-year coaching staff and the sort of next-level talent– any national challenger needs to weather the storm.
Cary Edmondson, USA TODAY Sports

42: UCF: This team joins the American Athletic Conference, along with three others former Conference USA rivals, and immediately becomes one of two strongest challengers to Louisville's place atop the league. Surprisingly, the Knights' issues are on defense, long an area of strength for the program. The offense, on the other hand, might be the American's best overall unit.
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41. Washington: This team already has the talent needed to challenge Stanford and Oregon for the Pac-12 North Division and a spot in the Rose Bowl. What the Huskies need is time to develop the many redshirt freshmen, sophomores and juniors set for starting or key reserve roles. With only two seniors set for starting jobs, UW might be a year away from reaching its full potential.
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40. Marshall: The program of Donnan and Pruett, Pennington and Leftwich enters the 2013 season with its highest expectations in more than a decade. After some fits and starts under fourth-year coach Doc Holliday – a step forward, two steps back – Marshall has the talent and offensive direction to storm through a reworked and revamped Conference USA and challenge for nine or more wins during the regular season.
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39. Ohio: There's no ignoring the Bobcats' talent and experience in the secondary. Returning cornerbacks like Carrie and Shaw, along with Wells and Fisher, give the Bobcats depth at the position unmatched – or even neared – by any rival in the MAC.
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38. Vanderbilt: The Commodores won nine games for the first in nearly a century last season, with five wins against the SEC. Last year's team finished 20th in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, and compiled the nation's 19th-best recruiting class, according to Rivals.com.
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37. Penn State: The Nittany Lions will need to replace eight starters, and the roster will lean more and more on non-scholarship players to augment smaller recruiting classes. The players will change, the standards might change, but the formula will remain the same: Coach Bill O'Brien will develop skill players, putting his talent in position to succeed, and weather the storm with every tool at his disposal.
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36. Oregon State: Last season marked a nice return to the status quo. OSU was picked sixth in the Pac-12 North Division – last, behind Washington State – and won nine games, ending the year in third place in the North, inside the top 20 nationally, back on the national radar. So what happens when the Beavers, picked third in the 2013 preseason poll, are handed logical expectations?
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35. Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets' offense is more diverse and dynamic than it often gets credit for being. Sophomore Vad Lee, who has shown aptitude as a passer in addition to running chops, is the likely QB.
In terms of career starts among its players, Georgia Tech is the FBS' third-most experienced team.
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34. Cincinnati: The Bearcats have a new coach, Tommy Tuberville, but enough returning talent and experience to challenge Louisville for the American Athletic Conference championship. Cincinnati also has one of the nation's easiest schedules, and could start 8-0 before hitting a snag in November. The season finale against Louisville could decide a Bowl Championship Series berth.
Al Behrman, AP

33. Baylor: The team's offense will continue to rank among the nation's best despite a change at quarterback, with junior Bryce Petty stepping into a starting role. Whether the Bears can leap into the Bowl Championship Series conversation depends on the play of a questionable if talented defense.
Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports

32. Brigham Young: BYU has one of the best defenses in college football, which should help the Cougars survive what will again be one of the toughest schedules in the country. But to gain a national ranking, BYU needs help from new starting quarterback Taysom Hill and the rest of the offense.
Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports

31. Wisconsin: This team has a new coach, Gary Andersen, but the standards won’t change. The Badgers have won three Big Ten titles in a row and reached three consecutive Rose Bowls, and enters 2013 with the same sense of purpose despite the new staff. But to get back to Pasadena, Wisconsin needs to choose a starting quarterback and solve some personnel issues in the defensive backfield.
Andy Manis, AP

30. UCLA: Jim Mora led the Bruins to the Pac-12 South Division title, upending USC in the process, marking his debut campaign a nearly unqualified success. With key returners and recruits, the next step is moving past the rival Trojans.
Christopher Hanewinckel, USA TODAY Sports

29. TCU: The Horned Frogs will deal with inexperience, youth and attrition – so it's similar to 2012, if to a lessened degree. In many ways, whether the Horned Frogs can regain their place in the championship picture hinges on one factor: whether TCU is stronger for last year's growing pains.
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28. Miami: This team enters 2013 with its best chance at an ACC championship in several years. But to reach that point, the Hurricanes must augment a very prolific offense with a stronger defense. For now, Miami has the weapons to score points on any team in the ACC but can’t be viewed as a championship contender until a young and untested defense rounds into form.
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27. Michigan State: The Spartans continue to house one of the nation’s best defenses, a group more than good enough to lift this team to the Rose Bowl. To rebound from last season’s disappointing seven-win finish, Michigan State must land more production from quarterback Andrew Maxwell and a stable of four or five backs battling to replace Le’Veon Bell.
Al Goldis, AP

26. Tulsa: The Golden Hurricane should be viewed as a heavy favorite to win another Conference USA championship. Tulsa has bigger goals, however, and could conceivably reach the Bowl Championship Series with a strong September against opponents like Oklahoma and Iowa State. For now, this team has too many issues on defense and is too reliant on freshmen for depth to be considered more than a contender for a national ranking.
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25. Fresno State: The team’s offense will be one of the best in the country. Quarterback Derek Carr, the third-year starter, should be viewed as an All-American contender and a darkhorse Heisman Trophy candidate. Whether the Bulldogs can win more than 10 games hinges on the defense’s ability to replace several stars, including an All-American at safety. The season will come down to two games against Boise State, one in the regular season and another in Mountain West Conference title game, should the Bulldogs reach that point.
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24. Kansas State: This year's squad enters a rebuilding year, a season far removed from last year's 11 wins, Big 12 title and Fiesta Bowl berth. Ten returning starters? No Heisman Trophy contenders? No All-American linebacker? The basic tune remains the same, just altered for 2013: KSU was questioned heading into last September. There's no reason to doubt Bill Snyder. The Wildcats were picked to finish eighth in the Big 12 in 2011 and finished second, and were picked to finish sixth last fall but finished first.
Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports

23. Virginia Tech: The Hokies looks to rebound after winning only seven games, four in the ACC, a season ago. The offense has some depth issues at wide receiver and needs a big year from Logan Thomas. But the defense is one of the best in the ACC and one of the best in the entire country.
Douglas Jones, USA TODAY Sports

22. Northwestern: The Wildcats went 10-3 and won a bowl game in 2012 to enter this season with high confidence. Northwestern has a wonderful amount of talent on offense, especially at quarterback and running back. To win the Big Ten, the Wildcats must beat Nebraska and Michigan during the regular season.
Phil Sears, USA TODAY Sports

21. Northern Illinois: The Huskies remain the clear and undisputed leader in the MAC for another year, coaching change or no, and is once again a major threat for 12 or 13 wins and an at-large BCS bid.
Andrew Weber, USA TODAY Sports

20. Oklahoma State: OSU has offense to spare but a few issues on defense. Is the offense alone good enough to win the Big 12? Maybe, especially if Texas and Oklahoma continue to tread water. But the Cowboys are not a complete team until the defense joins the offense.
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19. Southern California: USC looks to rebound after a painful 2012 season that began with enormous promise but ended at 7-6, behind UCLA in the Pac-12 South Division. To return to the championship race, the Trojans must find a new starting quarterback and land steady play from more than a dozen underclassmen set to hold major roles on offense and defense.
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18. Michigan: UM has more than enough talent to win the Big Ten Legends Division and play for a Rose Bowl berth, especially if quarterback Devin Gardner limits his turnovers. But the Wolverines are still very young at several key positions, so developing this youthful talent is the biggest key for the coming season.
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17. LSU: The program hired Cam Cameron as its new offensive coordinator, hoping the former Baltimore Ravens assistant can breathe life into a predictable unit. At the same time, LSU's proud defense faces some questions along the defensive line, which is traditionally a strength. While the Tigers might struggle at times, this team remains a BCS threat.
Derick E. Hingle, USA TODAY Sports

16. Louisville: The Cardinals have the luxury of playing one of the nation's weakest schedules. At the same time, the Cardinals realize one loss will end their championship hopes. Expectations are high, but with coach Charlie Strong and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, anything is possible.
Chuck Cook, USA TODAY Sports

15. Oklahoma: The Sooners need to settle on a starting quarterback before moving to the defense, which is once again short on bodies along the line. Another issue is the secondary, which must replace three starters. But the team as a whole remains dangerous inside and out of the Big 12.
Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports

14. Florida: UF has a defense worthy of a national championship but an offense with some major question marks. For example, is quarterback Jeff Driskel ready to take the next step? If so, does he have the receivers to make this passing game click? With a tough schedule, any chance Florida has at playing for the national championship hinges on the growth of this offense.
Chuck Cook, USA TODAY Sports

13. Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish return much of the same team that went 12-1 a season ago but are less explosive on both sides of the ball. To make another charge at the national championship, Notre Dame must land steady play from quarterback Tommy Rees and be equally stout on defense without All-American linebacker Manti Te’o.
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12. Texas: The Longhorns should be viewed as the top team in the Big 12 and national championship contenders. Whether UT can finally break out of its slump depends entirely on the play of a defense three or four years removed from its glory days. With the offense turning a corner, the Longhorns’ defense is the lone missing piece of the puzzle. Overall, however, Texas is one of the most experienced teams in the country.
Brendan Maloney, USA TODAY Sports

11. Nebraska: Coach Bo Pelini, a lover of shutouts, leads a team almost wholly defined by its immensely talented offense. It's an offense to love, one with a senior quarterback, a 1,000-yard back, an elite receiver corps and a stout offensive front, but nevertheless – it's an offense, and Pelini viewed offenses with nothing short of disdain for every second of his pre-Nebraska career.
Brian Spurlock, USA TODAY Sports

10. Clemson: The team lost leading receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the NFL in the offseason, but it has Sammy Watkins (shown) -- one of college football's top pass catchers -- back this season. And it also has senior quarterback Tajh Boyd, a legitimate Heisman trophy candidate throwing. That combination has helped Clemson become one of the ACC's top BCS candidates.
Joshua S. Kelly, USA TODAY Sports

9. Boise State: Quarterback Joe Southwick outruns two Washington defenders in last year's MAACO Bowl. Boise State enters the 2013 season with Southwick returning as its starting quarterback, which bodes well for the season. The Broncos are 51-2 under coach Chris Petersen in seasons when they've returned their starting QB.
Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports

8. Florida State: FSU will lean on some of the nation's best depth to survive losses like quarterback EJ Manuel and defensive ends Bjoern Werner and Tank Carradine, among others. But the Seminoles' recruiting efforts will help this team survive despite the losses, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Keep an eye on redshirt freshman Jameis Winston, the replacement for Manuel at quarterback.
Melina Vastola, USA TODAY Sports

7. Texas AM: Johnny Manziel alone makes this offense one of the nation's best. In addition to the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, however, Texas A&M has one of the nation's best tackles in Jake Matthews, a superb backfield and some of the best talent receiver talent in the FBS. What's separating A&M from Alabama is a defense, though the Aggies could score enough points to top the Crimson Tide and all comers to win the program's first national title since 1939.
Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports

6. Georgia: This team has one of the nation's best offenses but must replace nine starters on defense. In a nightmare scenario, Georgia scores enough points to go undefeated but loses two or more games due ot an inability to stop opponents like Clemson, South Carolina and Florida. But if the young defense clicks, Georgia can win the national championship.
John David Mercer, USA TODAY Sports

5. South Carolina: This team has the schedule, talent, coaching and experience to win the SEC East Division and play for the conference championship. To get there, however, the Gamecocks need to land a healthy season from quarterback Connor Shaw. The defense, led by Jadeveon Clowney, will be one of the nation's best.
Curtis Wilson, USA TODAY Sports

4. Oregon: This team will remain among the elite programs in college football despite a coaching change, with former offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mark Helfrich replacing Chip Kelly. The offense will continue to roll behind quarterback Marcus Mariota, running back De’Anthony Thomas and a seasoned offensive line. The defense is raw at linebacker but could have the nation’s best secondary. The season comes down to Oregon’s trip to Stanford in November.
Scott Olmos, USA TODAY Sports

3. Ohio State: Urban Meyer set a shot across the bow of the rest of the Big Ten, the SEC and the entire FBS, rapidly moving OSU out of a short lull and back into the national championship conversation. After a 12-0 stance in 2012, what's next? Perhaps better results in 2013, as the Buckeyes bring back their core. QB Braxton Miller is a Heisman hopeful.
Andrew Weber, USA TODAY Sports

2. Stanford: David Shaw's Cardinal have wonderful depth at every position. That, along with quarterback Kevin Hogan's growth, the line's continued improvement, the awesome front seven and wonderful secondary, makes Stanford one of the top teams in the FBS.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports

1. Alabama: Alabama is the pick to win the 2013 national championship. Don't act surprised. While sliding in new faces at some new spots, the Crimson Tide are stocked, locked and loaded, ready for another run, ready to again plant its flag amid a shower of confetti in January. Don't be surprised. Alabama is again the nation's best team, against coached better than anyone, again propelled forward by wonderful leadership and again defined by its ability to put forward the sort of consistently balanced effort needed to throttle every opponent in its path. This team is no worse than last year's version; it's better in many areas, in fact, and extremely motivated to secure a unique spot in college football history.
Marvin Gentry, USA TODAY Sports